The Chikungunya virus is an aedes mosquito transmitted disease that first originated in the 1950’s and has been causing numerous breakouts in at least 18 countries including Europe, Asia, India, and North America. It belongs to the genus Alphavirus in Togaviridae family and has a single stranded RNA gemone. This disease first affected non primates and then moved on to humans, causing about 4 million cases worldwide in a span of 4 years. When Chikungunya first appeared in Tanganyika, it caused attack rates as high as 70% in residents of all ages, and then after this outbreak only smaller ones appeared shortly after. It was not until the outbreak of Kenya in 2004 where a large epidemic started, spreading to countries such as America and India, that people started to take notice of this virus . During this time, dents were being created in public health and economic resources because people were unable to work. Since it is a disease carried by aedes mosquito, anyone is susceptible to obtain it if they get bitten by the mosquito, therefore it is not concentrated in a certain population. If a person does obtain this disease, they will experience fever, severe joint pain, and rashes. In severe cases, patients might have a severe headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and neurological problems.The Chikungunya virus is not a lethal disease, therefore when a person contracts it, they just need rest, take pain medicine for the joint pain, and plenty of fluids. Over a course of 1-2 weeks, a person will slowly start to recover and have full immunity to the disease. Studies are still being conducted to figure out the exact protein this disease affects. Since this disease has recently proved to be a concern, there is not a vaccine that has been developed to combat the disease. Instead, people are using Acetaminophen to relieve some of the symptoms this disease causes people to develop.Figure 1: This is a severe rash that the virus may cause. Eventually,as time progresses the rash goes away, but the scar will stay there. References: 1.Pialoux G, Gauzere B.A., Jaureguiberry S., Strobel M., Chikungunya, an epidemic arbovirosis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2007, 7, (5): 319-327.
2. Drendal A.L., Gorelick M.H., Weisman S.J., Lylon R., Brousseau D.C., Kim M.K., A Randomized Clinical Trial of Ibuprofen Versus Acetaminophen With Codeine for Pediatric Arm Fracture Pain. Science Direct 2009, 54, (4): 553-560.
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database.
4. Acetaminophen. The National Library of Medicine 2017.
Size: molecular weight of the protein: 69995.625 Da
Location: Microsome Membrane
Function in a normal cell:
The function of this protein is to convert arachidonate to prostaglandin H2, an important step in prostanoid synthesis. It is responsible for the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. It is also associated with increased cell adhesion, and resistance to apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis.
Figure 2: This is the picture of the target that Acetaminophen
tries to inhibit. The Prostaglandin G/H Synthase2 consists of many helix's and squiggled lines.
Drug Information
Schematic figure of drug:
Figure 3: This is the 2D structure of Acetaminophen.
Figure 4: This is another picture of the 2D structure of Acetaminophen, but without the atoms labeled.
Formula: C8H9NO2
Molecular weight: 151.165 g/mol
CAS Number: 103-90-2
Delivery method: This medicine can be taken orally by chewing tablets or liquid medicine. It can be taken by liquid through a syringe, or with a dropper. Lastly, this medicine may be taken by just swallowing a tablet with water.
Side effects: The side affects of Acetaminophen are itching or hives on the mouth, hands, throat, and chest. Bloody or black tarry stools, which is bleeding in the esophagus or small intestine. This medicine also causes fever, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, yellow eyes, light headedness, fainting, uncontrollable sweating and the possibility of vomiting blood.
Other names: Tylenol, Asprin, Acamol, Acephen, Acetaco, Acetamidophenol, Algotropyl, Anacin 3, and Datril.
Maker or company: Sigma- Aldrich, CAPOT, Life Chemicals, Boc Sciences, AKos Consulting & Solutions, Ark Pharm, Syntree, and Chembase.cn
Is it patented? Yes, they are available under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration act of 1984.
Clinical Trials Info: Clinical trials are being done in this era to study which drug, Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, is a better drug to take to relieve pain and fevers. In a recent study, 336 kids that had been out of the emergency room for 3 days were randomized. Some were given ibuprofen and others were given acetaminophen to relieve their pain. It was concluded that there is no significant difference between the pain relief that ibuprofen provides, to the one that acetaminophen can offer. They both relieve pain effectively.
Origin:
Alternatives to this drug: Ibuprofen
Miscellaneous: This medicine should not be taken if a person is allergic, drinks more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day, or if a women is pregnant because it may be passed on to the baby through breast milk. Also this medicine should not be given to children 12 years or younger. A normal dosage for adults is 1000 mg every 6 hours or 650 mg every 4 hours. A person should have a maximum daily dose of acetaminophen of 4000 mg per day and nothing more because it is then considered overdose. If a person overdoses it could cause vomiting, stomach pain, dark urine, confusion, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and the yellowing of the skin.
Other uses: can this drug be used to treat other diseases/conditions? This drug can be used to treat severe headaches, menstrual cramps, fever, muscle aches, arthritis, and toothaches. It is used to treat anything that causes pain, since this is a drug specifically to treat pain and fevers.
Disease/Drug of interest:
Motivation and Background:
The Chikungunya virus is an aedes mosquito transmitted disease that first originated in the 1950’s and has been causing numerous breakouts in at least 18 countries including Europe, Asia, India, and North America. It belongs to the genus Alphavirus in Togaviridae family and has a single stranded RNA gemone. This disease first affected non primates and then moved on to humans, causing about 4 million cases worldwide in a span of 4 years. When Chikungunya first appeared in Tanganyika, it caused attack rates as high as 70% in residents of all ages, and then after this outbreak only smaller ones appeared shortly after. It was not until the outbreak of Kenya in 2004 where a large epidemic started, spreading to countries such as America and India, that people started to take notice of this virus . During this time, dents were being created in public health and economic resources because people were unable to work. Since it is a disease carried by aedes mosquito, anyone is susceptible to obtain it if they get bitten by the mosquito, therefore it is not concentrated in a certain population. If a person does obtain this disease, they will experience fever, severe joint pain, and rashes. In severe cases, patients might have a severe headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and neurological problems.The Chikungunya virus is not a lethal disease, therefore when a person contracts it, they just need rest, take pain medicine for the joint pain, and plenty of fluids. Over a course of 1-2 weeks, a person will slowly start to recover and have full immunity to the disease. Studies are still being conducted to figure out the exact protein this disease affects. Since this disease has recently proved to be a concern, there is not a vaccine that has been developed to combat the disease. Instead, people are using Acetaminophen to relieve some of the symptoms this disease causes people to develop.
References:
1.Pialoux G, Gauzere B.A., Jaureguiberry S., Strobel M., Chikungunya, an epidemic arbovirosis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2007, 7, (5): 319-327.
2. Drendal A.L., Gorelick M.H., Weisman S.J., Lylon R., Brousseau D.C., Kim M.K., A Randomized Clinical Trial of Ibuprofen Versus Acetaminophen With Codeine for Pediatric Arm Fracture Pain. Science Direct 2009, 54, (4): 553-560.
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database.
4. Acetaminophen. The National Library of Medicine 2017.
External links:
1. https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/5fdq/protein/1
2. http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.lib.utexas.edu/science/article/pii/S0041008X14002075
3. https://www.drugs.com/acetaminophen.html
4. https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/
5. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p1106-chikungunya-outbreak.html
Target Information:
Name: Prostaglandin G/H Synthase 2Size: molecular weight of the protein: 69995.625 Da
Location: Microsome Membrane
Function in a normal cell:
The function of this protein is to convert arachidonate to prostaglandin H2, an important step in prostanoid synthesis. It is responsible for the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. It is also associated with increased cell adhesion, and resistance to apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis.
Figure 2: This is the picture of the target that Acetaminophen
tries to inhibit. The Prostaglandin G/H Synthase2 consists of manyhelix's and squiggled lines.
Drug Information
Schematic figure of drug:
Figure 3: This is the 2D structure of Acetaminophen.
Figure 4: This is another picture of the 2D structure of
Acetaminophen, but without the atoms labeled.
Formula: C8H9NO2
Molecular weight: 151.165 g/mol
CAS Number: 103-90-2
Delivery method: This medicine can be taken orally by chewing tablets or liquid medicine. It can be taken by liquid through a syringe, or with a dropper. Lastly, this medicine may be taken by just swallowing a tablet with water.
Side effects: The side affects of Acetaminophen are itching or hives on the mouth, hands, throat, and chest. Bloody or black tarry stools, which is bleeding in the esophagus or small intestine. This medicine also causes fever, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, yellow eyes, light headedness, fainting, uncontrollable sweating and the possibility of vomiting blood.
Other names: Tylenol, Asprin, Acamol, Acephen, Acetaco, Acetamidophenol, Algotropyl, Anacin 3, and Datril.
Maker or company: Sigma- Aldrich, CAPOT, Life Chemicals, Boc Sciences, AKos Consulting & Solutions, Ark Pharm, Syntree, and Chembase.cn
Is it patented? Yes, they are available under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration act of 1984.
Clinical Trials Info:
Clinical trials are being done in this era to study which drug, Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, is a better drug to take to relieve pain and fevers. In a recent study, 336 kids that had been out of the emergency room for 3 days were randomized. Some were given ibuprofen and others were given acetaminophen to relieve their pain. It was concluded that there is no significant difference between the pain relief that ibuprofen provides, to the one that acetaminophen can offer. They both relieve pain effectively.
Origin:
Alternatives to this drug: Ibuprofen
Miscellaneous: This medicine should not be taken if a person is allergic, drinks more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day, or if a women is pregnant because it may be passed on to the baby through breast milk. Also this medicine should not be given to children 12 years or younger. A normal dosage for adults is 1000 mg every 6 hours or 650 mg every 4 hours. A person should have a maximum daily dose of acetaminophen of 4000 mg per day and nothing more because it is then considered overdose. If a person overdoses it could cause vomiting, stomach pain, dark urine, confusion, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and the yellowing of the skin.
Other uses: can this drug be used to treat other diseases/conditions?
This drug can be used to treat severe headaches, menstrual cramps, fever, muscle aches, arthritis, and toothaches. It is used to treat anything that causes pain, since this is a drug specifically to treat pain and fevers.